The Bible shows that there is a proper fear and an improper fear.
Thus, fear may be wholesome and cause the individual to proceed with due caution in the face of danger, thereby averting disaster, or it may be morbid, destroying hope and weakening a person’s nervous stamina, even to the point of bringing about death.

The fear of God is healthful; it is an awe and a profound reverence for the Creator and a wholesome dread of displeasing him.

This fear of incurring his displeasure is a result of appreciation of his loving-kindness and goodness together with the realization that he is the Supreme Judge and the Almighty, who has the power to inflict punishment or death upon those who disobey him.

The proper fear of God is essential to those who would serve him. This profound fear of God is the beginning of wisdom It is not a morbid fear that tears down. This fear is defined thus at Proverbs 8:13: “The fear of God means the hating of bad.”

It will prevent one from following a bad course, for in the fear of God one turns away from bad.

Fear is the glue that holds the dupes to religion. Without that, they wouldn't give charlatans all that money. washout that money, charlatans would cease and find a different scam. But the scam that is religion still works. To the detriment of society.

Luke 12:5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

God uses both the carrot and stick method to try to keep us on the straight and narrow road (Mt 7:13-14). As long as you stay on that road, you have nothing to fear, but if you veer off, you could crash. You don't want to crash. It's a big stick.